Institute Team

The 2023 Drake Institute team builds on administrative and faculty talent engaged in previous Institutes to support successful implementation of all program activities, and to engage meaningfully with the Fellows throughout their experience.

Administration for the Drake Institute is led by the Office of Global Engagement, in partnership with faculty leaders in the Zimpleman College of Business.

Hannah Sappenfield, Administrative Director: Hannah Sappenfield serves as the Assistant Director for Global Partnerships Drake University. She has extensive experience with project management, international programming, and building community partnerships. In addition to her native English, Hannah speaks fluent French and some German. Previously, Hannah served as the Program Coordinator for the 2021 virtual program and the 2022 return to an in-person Fellowship experience, playing a critical leadership role in planning the Drake Institute and providing day-to-day facilitation during the program dates. Hannah can be reached at Hannah.Sappenfield@drake.edu.

Lance Noe, Academic Director: Lance Noe directs Drake’s Center for Professional Studies and teaches in the Master of Public Administration degree program at Drake University. Lance works with local and international learners seeking professional education. He has served in an Institute leadership position since 2016. 

Dr. Deb Bishop, Leadership Manager: Deb Bishop is a recently retired Professor of Practice in Management and International Business at Drake University, where she taught in the areas of entrepreneurship, process improvement, procurement and operations. She has traveled extensively throughout the continent of Africa, having taken Drake undergraduate students to Uganda frequently as part of a recurring faculty-led travel seminar program. Deb is a certified Clifton Strengths® coach, and she has served in an Institute leadership position since 2016. 

Tom Swartwood, Entrepreneurship Manager: Tom Swartwood is a recently retired Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University, and former Assistant Director of the Buchanan Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Drake University. Tom has served as a Focus Project Coach and mentor for past Drake Institute Fellows, and in 2023 he will officially join the Institute team in the new role of Entrepreneurship Manager. Tom will facilitate site visits related to entrepreneurship and help the Fellows make connections with local entrepreneurs and business leaders in the greater Des Moines community. 

Stephanie Kiel, Program Coordinator: Stephanie Kiel is a current undergraduate student at Drake University, Class of 2024. Stephanie served in the Resident Assistant position for the 2022 Institute and was an instrumental member of the Drake Institute team. In the elevated position of Program Coordinator, she will support Fellows’ acclimation to the campus and local community, manage regular Fellow communications, and provide general day-to-day support to the Drake cohort in 2023.

Jorona Johnson, Community Engagement Coordinator: Jorona Johnson is the International Student Advisor at Drake University. Jorona served in the role of Program Support Specialist in 2022 to provide additional logistics and programmatic support to the Drake Institute team. In the new role of Community Engagement Coordinator, the scope of Jorona’s work will be targeted to connecting the Fellows to the Drake and Des Moines communities through home hosted meals and mentorship.

Annique Kiel, Institute Advisor: Annique Kiel is the Executive Director of Global Engagement and International Programs at Drake University. Annique is the senior leader on Drake’s campus overseeing all global activities, and she has been involved with the Drake Institute since 2016.

Additional support from across campus:

All seven academic colleges and schools across Drake’s campus are engaged with the Fellows in some capacity during the program – typically by providing faculty to lead relevant academic sessions or to serve as mentors.

Non-academic units including Sponsored Programs Administration and Research Compliance, Community Engaged Learning, Human Resources, and the Harkin Institute also support the Drake Institute.

Senior leadership including President Martin, Vice President John Smith, and Provost Sue Mattison are strong supporters of the Drake Institute and will meet with the Fellows during the program.